What happened

St. Louis Rams LT Jake Long will finish another season on injured reserve.

Long’s knee was rolled up during the Rams’ contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Long was carted off the field, and the Rams automatically assumed the worst.

Rams head coach Jeff Fisher confirmed the news Monday. Long suffered a torn ACL and MCL.

The franchise invested heavily in Long during the off season. The left tackle signed a four-year, $34 million contract in March. Yet, this is the third straight season Long ended the year on injured reserve.

Q(uick) take

The Rams have to worry about the long-term health of Long. He hasn’t proven capable of staying healthy the past three seasons.

Rodger Saffold III will finish the season at left tackle. Safford previously played on the blindside with varying results.

The Rams can’t rely on Saffold long-term. He has an injury history. Saffold is also a free agent after the season. It’s realistic the Rams could make Saffold a priority during the off season. According to ESPN.com’s Nick Waggoner, Saffold’s versatility is far too valuable to the Rams.

“Whether it’s as a top guard or an above-average tackle is beside the point. The point is that Saffold can be any and all of those things at the drop of a hat. That’s where his true value lies.

“And, after losing Long to a potentially long-term knee injury, that value should be greater to the Rams than anyone else.”

Even if the Rams re-sign Saffold, his best position is at guard.

Meanwhile, Jake Long has a long recovery ahead of him. A typical ACL injury takes eight or nine months to heal. A timetable of that length will have Long ready at some point during training camp. Although, it’s possible he won’t be ready for the start of the 2014 season.

"I would have confidence in him coming back. He's an exceptional athlete and takes care of himself." – Fisher on Jake Long

The Rams already had issues at offensive tackle. Right tackle, in particular, hasn’t been decided despite solid play from Joseph Barksdale. With a need at right tackle and uncertainty surrounding Long’s injury, the best course of action for the Rams may be to select an offensive tackle with the Top 5 selection acquired from the Washington Redskins.

Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews is an ideal candidate. Matthews is generally considered a Top 10 selection in the 2014 draft class. He can also play both tackle spots. Matthews is a two-time All-American, once at right and left tackle.

The Rams could also consider Auburn’s Greg Robinson. Robinson is a red-shirt sophomore, but he is also the most dominant run blocker in the collegiate ranks. Robinson doesn’t possesses the same type of versatility as Matthews, but he has tremendous upside.

The Rams possess a pair of first round picks. It would be in their best interests to select an offensive tackle with one of those selections. They can address a need at right tackle if Long is healthy and the team will have an insurance policy in place for their injury riddled let tackle.

What they’re saying

The NFL draft is still over four months away. The Rams have plenty of time to assess Jake Long’s recovery and how the franchise should address the offensive line.

Matthews remains the most likely scenario and a good fit for the Rams.

“In early projections, Matthews is regarded as the best tackle in the draft and a plug-and-play starter from day one. Given the Rams’ primary needs — offensive line, secondary and wide receiver — Matthews likely represents the best match of need and value for a potential No. 2 overall draft choice.”